Because, unless it's screening out-of-competition (which tends to be Hollywood films it seems), it won't be part of the Festival because Cannes (and several other big festivals) say that a film entered cannot have had a public screening before hand or have been entered in a previous Festival... just helps build up excitement to the competition knowing the films haven't been shown before.

Actually, the rule is that a film can't have screened outside its primary country of origin. However, Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week will sometimes pick up the odd buzz title from Berlin or Rotterdam (usually from a new director).

This is the main condition that prevents films being shown anywhere before Cannes.

Only films (feature and short) that meet the following conditions may be chosen for invitation to the Official Selection:• Films that have not been presented in any international motion picture event. If the film (feature or short) has been selected in an international section (competitive or not) of a festival, it becomes ineligible for the Festival de Cannes.

...though it's worth noting that the definition of "primary country of origin" can be flexible.

For instance, I'd have said that Land and Freedom was more of a British than a Spanish film, factoring in the nationalities of the director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, lead actor and indeed the protagonist, not to mention the source of much of the funding. Yet it opened commercially in Spain before its Cannes premiere, presumably trading on its location, historical subject and the fact that much of it was in Spanish.

I suppose the crucial distinction was that it hadn't opened anywhere else - had it played in the UK as well, it would probably have been rendered ineligible.

The claim that it's his last film isn't news, and the Hungarian kerfuffle should have no impact on anyone other than Hungarian cinemagoers - who've never struck me as being massive Tarr fans to begin with.

Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:01 amLocation: In the middle of an Elyssian Field

MichaelB wrote:

The claim that it's his last film isn't news, and the Hungarian kerfuffle should have no impact on anyone other than Hungarian cinemagoers - who've never struck me as being massive Tarr fans to begin with.

As far as I can make out, just three of his films are even out on DVD over there - Family Nest, Damnation and Werckmeister Harmonies. So I'm assuming there's been little love lost between Tarr and the Hungarian film establishment for some time.

I took a day trip to Budapest when I was living in Prague for the summer and the only thing I knew about Hungary was Bela Tarr. I asked some punk kids I met if they knew about him - and not only had they seen all his films but many of them knew him personally.

As far as I can make out, just three of his films are even out on DVD over there - Family Nest, Damnation and Werckmeister Harmonies. So I'm assuming there's been little love lost between Tarr and the Hungarian film establishment for some time.

Those three and Satantango are available on DVD here. I believe that Duna TV shows some of his earlier socialist realism films from time to time as well. When he won the Silver Bear he was a media darling for a couple days on the news and there has been some articles in index.hu and other popular new sites speculating on his future movements. That being said, he's by no means a popular filmmaker here. Same can be said of Jancso until his foray into cursing comedy--perhaps Tarr should move in that direction? He already cast the clown Robert Koltai once.

But the current political climate here makes it quite impossible for artists to speak up either at home or abroad. Sad to see that Mokep caved under the pressure, but I'm sure that pressure was immense. The Prime Minister here has quite completely lost his mind. During the recent March 15th celebrations he recited a long and very celebrated poem by Sandor Petofi calling for Freedom. He actually had the nerve to omit all the numerous references to Freedom of the press that pepper the poem. During his same performance he insisted that Hungary will weather the trials imposed by the EU just as they had Nazism and Communism--mind you, Hungary is currently playing EU host. Living under Bush certainly had its humiliations, but Bush's handlers would never let him bust out with this pitch of idiocy.

I was disappointed that Aurora (also distributed by Cinema Guild) isn't currently scheduled for a theatrical run in Los Angeles. So I decided to inquire about The Turin Horse, regarding a screening in Los Angeles, and here's the reply I got, which applies to its national release:

Quote:

The film [Turin Horse] won’t be going into regular theatrical release until early 2012, at which time we will release the film nationally (including L.A.)

The Turin Horse is Hungary's nomination for the Best Foreign Film Oscar shortlist, though whether it makes the last five (let alone wins) is now out of their hands:

Quote:

THE TURIN HORSE is the official Hungarian entry for the upcoming Academy Awards

At the meeting of the Hungarian Selection Committee for Academy Awards Entry held on the 31st August, it was announced that Hungary will enter THE TURIN HORSE by BÉLA TARR for consideration for the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year.

The Turin Horse was co-produced by T.T. Filmműhely (H), MPM Film (F), VEGA Film (CH), zero Fiction (D), WWW (US) and supported by the Motion Picture Public Foundation of Hungary (MMKA), the former Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM) and the National Cultural Fund (NKA) of Hungary.

In Turin in 1889, Nietzsche flings his arms around an exhausted carriage horse, then loses consciousness and his mind. This film tells the story of a farmer and his daughter trying to survive in a desolate landscape even though the horse that had always provided their livelihood has already given up on them.

Highly-acclaimed Tarr signs The Turin Horse, his 8th full-length feature film, with his long-time collaborators. The screenplay was written by Béla Tarr and László Krasznahorkai, co-directed and edited by Ágnes Hranitzky, scored by Mihály Víg. DoP of The Turin Horse was Fred Kelemen and delegate producer was Gábor Téni. The main actors, also well known from Tarr’s previous films, are Erika Bók, János Derzsi and Mihály Kormos.

The world premiere of The Turin Horse was hosted by the Berlinale Competition where it was awarded the Jury Grand Prix and also received the FIPRESCI Prize.

The international sales are handled by Berlin based Films Boutique, The Turin Horse will be released by Cinema Guild in the US soon.

Forthcoming festival presentation includes Toronto IFF Masters - North American Premiere - and New York Film Festival - US Premiere.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the nominations – the five features from among the national entries – to compete for the Oscar statuette in the category of Best Foreign Language Film of the Year on 24th January. The 84th Annual Academy Awards Presentation will be held on February 26th 2012 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

I do not believe that there has ever been a Bela Tarr retrospective within the English speaking world for very obvious commercial reasons.

London's National Film Theatre hosted a complete retrospective in March 2001.

10 years have passed, fingers crossed for another soon.

Not the best example, but Facets in Chicago had one in 1996. They happen, but far too seldom. He hasn't done many films, so it would be great if Lincoln Center or better yet MoMA (who's less dependent on film ticket sales) ran one next year, it would be perfect for them.

UPDATE: Did a quick check - NY's first full Tarr retrospective was held in 2001, courtesy of MoMA.

Last edited by hearthesilence on Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.